WELCOME TO THE FIRST ANNUAL
ACADEMY OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
INFORMATION NIGHT
Dina Link
Coordinator, Academy of Biotechnology
Teacher, Biology and Molecular Biotechnology
Agenda

Introduction to Career Cluster
Academies
 Career
Education Programs
 Northwest High School

The Northwest High School Program
 Description
& Benefits
 Expectations
 Resources
Career and
Technology Education in MCPS

Vision
 Combine
rigorous academic and technical study with
the excitement of discovery through small learning
communities and career-theme programs.
 With
the support of the business and higher education
communities, students will apply their acquired skills and
knowledge to make informed decisions concerning
education, careers, and a path toward lifelong
learning.
Career Pathway Programs
MCPS Model:
Rigor + Relevance + Relationships = ENGAGEMENT
Career Pathway Programs
2007 Wage Data – 2001 MCPS Graduates
CTE Completer
Mean Quarterly Wage in U.S. Dollars
10000
9000
8000
7000
No CTE
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
Q3 2001
Q3 2002
Q3 2003
Q3 2004
Q3 2005
Q3 2006
Q3 2007
Figure 1. Quarterly Wages from September 2001 to September 2007 for Matched
Pairs of Students from the MCPS Class of 2001 by CTE Completion.
Note: Wage data are reported for 538 matched pairs of graduates. Wages are not adjusted for inflation.
Source: 2007 Lifelong Learning and Earning Six-year Study
Career Pathway Programs
Impact of Model Implementation
Dual completion students…



Graduate from college more often
Graduate in less time
Obtain better paying jobs
Source: 1999 and Preliminary 2007 MCPS Lifelong Learning and Earning Six-year Stud
Biotechnology


MCPS Definition: Students are officially enrolled in
the program in their Junior Year; 4 credit hours min.
for completion
Recommended foundation courses in 9th and 10th
grade
 Biology
 Chemistry
 Physics

Honors level strongly recommended, but not required;
case-by-case judgment
Biotechnology
Benefits
 Articulation
agreement with Montgomery
College for up to five credits
 AP college credit options
 Student internship opportunities ex. HHMI and
CARB
Northwest High School
Academy of Biotechnology
Small Learning Community Model
 Est.
in 2003/2004 School Year
 07/08 Graduating Class: 11
students
 08/09 Graduating Class: 16
students
 Current membership: ~75
students, 9th to 12th grade
 09/10 Mol Bio enrollment: 24
students
Academy Goals = CTE Vision

Rigor

 Molecular
 Academy
science
course sections
 Student Association
Biotechnology Course:
level credit
 Aligns with local
Community College
“Intro to Biotechnology”
course
 Advanced

 AP
A grade of B or better
gives equivalent college
course credit
Science encouraged
Relationship

Relevance
 Embedded
Career
exploration
 Guest speakers
 Field Trips
 Internships
Rigor
Molecular Biotechnology Course: Nine Units of Study
Unit
Description
1
Biotechnology; Past, Present, and Future
2
Essential Lab Skills and Safety
3
Cell Structure and Function Review
4
Macromolecule Structure and Function
5
Proteins
6
Nucleic Acids
7
Protein Synthesis and Gene Regulation
8
Molecular Technology
9
Legal, Ethical and Funding Issues in Biotechnology
Rigor – Techniques & Technologies

Team work – lab groups and lab
group meetings


DNA extractions
Gel electrophoresis: protein &
DNA
Maintaining a professional lab
notebook

Restriction enzyme analysis

Scientific Communication

Protein crystallography

Lab Safety

PCR

Lab Math – making solutions

ELISA

Common lab equipment

Microarray

Pipetting – micro and macro

Microscopy

Sterile technique

Sequencing

Maintaining cell cultures

Bioinformatics

Transformation

Relationship

Scheduling & Tracking
 Academy-designated
sections for all foundation courses
 Double Period for 11th Grade core course
 Students tracked in central database
Relationship

Student Association
from 9th to 12th grade
 Student-led: Officers voted in yearly
 Responsibilities:
 Membership
 Hold
Monthly membership meetings
 Fundraising
 ID and research Guest Speaker and Field Trip opportunities
 Plan and run Graduation Celebration
 Keep Academy Members informed of specific events and
opportunities in the school and surrounding community
 Assist in recruitment activities
Communication

School Website
 Northwest
 General

High School
program information
Academy of Biotechnology Edline page
 Academy
 List
of Biotechnology
schedules for important events
 Whole group emails
 Post community opportunities & events
Relevance

Embedded activities
 Lab
meeting topics – tied to current applied research
for each Unit of study
 Biotech Company Research Project – semester long

Community connections
 Year-long
Internships strongly encouraged
 MCPS/NIH/HHMI
program: Open to any MCPS student;
competitive
 Center for Advanced Research & Biotechnology: Open to
CTE students first; competitive
 School-based CTE Internship Coordinator: Works with
community contacts
Relevance

Field Trips
 National
Library of
Medicine
 MedImmune
 Koshland Science Museum
 National Aquarium:
behind-the-scenes tour
 Maryland Science Museum
 Montgomery College
 MDBio Mobile Lab
Rewards
Student Testimonials
“As a member of the academy, I received unique
insight on modern branches of science, such as
genetics and the role of molecules in sustaining
life. I also had the opportunity to visit various
institutions and learn of current projects in the
field of biotechnology,” Megh
In Molecular Biology, I had loved all the labs, but
my favorite one was when we were testing the
effect of the “ampicillin resistant gene” in
bacteria. It was pretty interesting to observe,
how easily we had inserted or modified the
gene of the E. Coli bacteria just with the help of
test tubes and pipets,” Sachi
Rewards